ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Development of North-East Region
MoS  Dr Jitendra Singh to lay foundation stone of NERAMAC Marketing complex in Guwahati tomorrow
The Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region  Dr Jitendra Singh will lay the foundation stone of North Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Corporation Limited  Marketing complex in Guwahati, Assam tomorrow. Shri Ram Muivah, Secretary, North Eastern Council  will also be present on the occasion.
NERAMAC is coming up with “Construction of its Marketing Complex at Six Mile, Guwahati” in a land measuring 2007 sq. mt.  with the support of North Eastern Council . This building will be constructed in two phases. In first phase, Block I  of the Building will be developed up to 4th Floor and the Block II  will be developed upto 1st Floor at a total cost of Rs. 13.15 cr.
The construction of this building of Office cum marketing complex is funded by North Eastern Council under its scheme for ‘Marketing support Agri-horti produce in NE region’.
This Building will be developed as a ‘Green Building’ and one of the State of Art land mark buildings in the region. The building will have the provisions for an Agri-Horti Retails Hub wherein all the farmers & entrepreneurs of North East will get a common platform to showcase and sell their products and produces.
On the other hand, the proposed NERAMAC’s Office cum Marketing Complex shall also have the provisions for accommodating Agri – Horti related Government Departments under a single roof for better coordination and to provide single window facilitation centre to the farmers groups / Entrepreneurs to avail Schemes of Government.
The NERAMAC Limited was incorporated in the year 1982 as a Government of India Enterprise and having its registered office at Guwahati and operating under the administrative control of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region . NERAMAC is a pioneer marketing organization in the field of Agri-Horti sector of the North-eastern region, involved in supporting farmers right from the fields and upto the markets to the end consumers through registered FPO/FPCs.
NERAMAC, when have its own infrastructure developed with all facilities, will not only attain its sustainability but it also strengthen for larger operation which will directly or indirectly benefit the farmers of the region.
NERAMAC is continuously making all efforts for the development of the farmers of the North eastern region and double their income by the end of the 2022 and hence, the construction of this building infrastructure at the heart of the north eastern city of Guwahati will be the step forward in this direction.
Ministry of Law and Justice
37 new High Court Judges appointed – Independence Day 2022
138 total High Court appointments, so far, surpassing its earlier record of 126 High Court appointments in 2016
Appointment process in higher judiciary put on fast track
37 New High Court Judges have been appointed by the Government last night. This is in continuation of the appointment of 26 High Court Judges in various High Courts on Friday. With the notification of the appointments of another 11 High Court Judges in the Punjab & Haryana High Court by the government this year i.e. 2022, so far 138 appointments in various High Courts of the country has been made thus surpassing its earlier record of 126 High Court appointments in 2016. Last year i.e. 2021, the appointment tally in High Courts was 120 in addition to 9 appointments in the Supreme Court. Thus, the entire appointment process in higher judiciary has been put on a fast track.
Yesterday’s 11 appointments in the High Court of Punjab & Haryana includes the names  Ms. Nidhi Gupta, S/Shri  Sanjay Vashisth,  Tribhuvan Dahiya,  Namit Kumar,  Harkesh Manuja,  Aman Chaudhary,  Naresh Singh,  Harsh Bunger,  Jagmohan Bansal,  Deepak Manchanda and  Alok Jain, Advocates as Additional Judges of that High Court for a period of two years, with effect from the date they assume charge of their respective offices.
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President's Secretariat
President of India Inaugurates Additional Building Complex of Supreme Court
The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the Additional Building Complex of the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi today . He also received a copy of translations of 100 Supreme Court judgements in various regional languages.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the 100 judgements that have been translated into nine Indian languages represent a start. He noted that priority has been given to judgements related to labour laws, consumer protection, family and personal laws, land acquisition and rental disputes, and similar areas – because these concern common people. He said that the purview and ambition of the project should not be limited by utilitarian purposes. The aim should be to ensure that the maximum number of judgements of the Supreme Court and the high courts should be available in major Indian languages. Ideally this should include judgements on crucial constitutional matters. He said that in the initial period, this will be a boon to litigants – but eventually it will help spread the light of legal learning and understanding of the nuances of law across our country. It will assist in building a legally aware and enlightened society.
The President said that the efficiency and responsiveness of the judicial system is dependent on both quality and quantity. While the quality of our judges and the independence of our judiciary are recognised around the world, the problem of numbers and vacancies has arisen from time to time. Even so, today we are in the happy position that all 31 vacancies in the Supreme Court have been filled by able judges. This has happened after a full decade. He congratulated the Collegium and the government for this achievement.
Click here to see the President's Speech
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to dedicate Raebareli-Fatehpur-Banda section of NH-232 to the nation this week
The highway an important link between Bundelkhand, Chitrakoot, Lucknow and Purvanchal districts of Uttar Pradesh
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will dedicate to the nation the Raebareli-Fatehpur-Banda section of NH-232 at an event in Raebareli on Sunday, the 16th of December. The 133 km project has been completed at a cost of about Rs 558 crore. It is an important link between the mining areas of Bundelkhand, pilgrimagecentreChitrakoot, the state capital Lucknow and the Purvanchal districts of the state. The highway sees heavy traffic carrying construction material. When National Highways Authority of India took over this highway in 2013, it was in a very dilapidated condition and the travel from Banda to Raebareli was taking around 7 to 8 hours. After renovation, the travel time between these two cities has come down to just 2.5 hours
The highway istwo-laned with paved shoulder, and includes a4 laned stretch of 2 km in the urban part of Banda City. There are two 2 Bypasses – an 11 km one for the city of Fatehpur and 5 km one for Lalganj, Raebareli . There are also two Rail-Over-Bridges  at Lalganj and Fatehpur. These have been constructed using Bow String Girder technology to avoid traffic blockage on the busyDelhi Kolkata Railway Trunk Route as far as possible. There is one major bridge over river Sai spanning 90m and 2 vehicular underpasses in this section of the highway, in addition to various other small structures like RCC Box and Pipe Culverts.
Apart from drastically reducing the travel time between Banda and Rae Bareli, this highway will also cut down traffic congestion I these cities, reduce pollution and cut down fuel consumption. The highway will also open up employment opportunities in the area and boost socio-economic development in the Purvanchal and Bundelkhand regions of the state.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Centre directs all States/UTs to speed up the process of issuing stock limit
Uttar Pradesh has notified stock limit on October 12, 2021, others in the process
State Government has to ensure that full benefit of duty reduction made by the Centre is passed on to the consumers
The Department of Food and Public Distribution  took a meeting with all States/UTs to review the status of stock limit on Edible Oils.
The Department under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, sought details of action taken by the States/UTs on its order dated 08.10.2021 and subsequent reminder on 12.10.2021 and 22.10.2021 regarding stock limit on Edible Oils.
The Centre directed all States/UTs to ensure that the consumers get the benefit of Centre’s initiatives on stock limit of Edible Oils. The Centre also advised to speed up the process of issuing stock limit notification in all States/UTs before the festive season.
In this regard, Uttar Pradesh has taken lead and informed that they have already issued a stock limit order on October 12, 2021 which will soften the prices.
However, other states are either in consultation with the stakeholders or have already submitted the proposal to the State Government for approval.
Chairing the meeting, Joint Secretary DFPD, Shri Partha S. Das stressed that the stock limit has to be notified by each State/UT based on their consumption pattern.
States of Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana have already submitted the proposal to the State Government and imposition of Stock limit is expected shortly. States of Maharashtra, Odisha, Kerala, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, UT of Chandigarh have initiated the process of fixing Stock limits and will soon notify relevant limits for different classes.
Centre in its order earlier had directed that the State Government has to ensure that full benefit of duty reduction made by the Centre is passed on to the consumers in order to provide immediate relief from the high prices of Edible Oils, especially during the ensuing festival season. This would also help in bringing down the food inflation and provide relief to ordinary consumers by reduction in the prices of edible oils.
The DFPD is closely monitoring the prices of edible oils and its availability to the consumers. This is especially important in the context of the upcoming festival season in which demand of edible oils will increase. Various steps have already been taken by the government like based on the interaction with all the states and edible oil industry associations, stock disclosure notification has been issued and DFPD has created a web portal to monitor the stock of edible oils/oilseeds on a weekly basis in the country.
Ministry of Textiles
Regional Toys Fair inaugurated at Varanasi
Indian Toys attract visitors at Deendayal Hastkala Sankul
The first Regional Toys Fair is being organised in Varanasi at Deendayal Hastkala Sankul Trade Facilitation Centre & Museum from 27th -30th May, 2022 by the office of Development Commissioner Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles in association with Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts .
The fair was inaugurated by Smt. Mridula Jaiswal, Mayor of Varanasi in the presence of Shri Shantmanu - Development Commissioner , Ministry of Textiles and Shri R. K. Verma – ED, EPCH.
Smt. Mridula Jaiswal appreciated the efforts for Regional Toys Fair and suggested to organise such events regularly at Varanasi. Shri Shantmanu, DC Handicrafts said that such initiatives by their department will help in realising the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India to promote ‘Handmade in India’ especially for items such as toys with a thrust on ‘Make in India’ initiative.
In his address, Dr. Rakesh Kumar, DG EPCH said that around 100 toys exhibitors from 13 states are exhibiting their products and craftsmanship during the three days fair. The Nirmal toys from Telangana, Channapatna and Kinhal Toys toys from Karnataka, wooden toys from Varanasi and Chirakoot, Kathputli craft from Rajasthan, Asharikandi toys from Assam, dolls from Manipur are some of the major attractions for buyers.
The toys play and important role in the cognitive development of children and toy-based pedagogy can be used by parents to make their children learn. Toys help in understanding the cultural heritage of our country, and at the same time, strengthen the psychomotor and emotional development of their personality.
Indian Toys Industry is estimated to be $1.5 bn making up 0.5% of global market share. The toy manufacturers in India are mostly located in NCR, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and clusters across central Indian states. The sector is fragmented with 90% of the market being unorganized and 4,000 toy industry units from the MSME sector. The Govt. of India and the entrepreneurs are working closely in the direction to increase India’s export share in global toy business that is worth over US$ 7 trillion informed Dr. Rakesh Kumar.
EPCH is a nodal organisation responsible for promotion of exports of handcrafted products from India to various global destinations and project India’s image abroad as a reliable supplier at competitive prices.
Ministry of Finance
India and World Bank sign $125 million Loan to support access to Social Protection Services in West Bengal
The Government of India, the Government of West Bengal, and the World Bank signed a $125 million IBRD loan to support efforts to help poor and vulnerable groups access social protection services in the state of West Bengal.
West Bengal runs more than 400 programs that provide social assistance, care services, and jobs. Most of these services are offered through an umbrella platform called Jai Bangla. The West Bengal Building State Capability for Inclusive Social Protection Project will support these interventions at the state level, with particular focus on vulnerable groups such as women, tribal and scheduled caste households, and the elderly, as well as households in the state’s disaster-prone coastal regions.
The Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance stated that, “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to have seamless systems in place to deliver inclusive and equitable social protection in times of crisis. This project will focus on building the capabilities of the state government to expand coverage and access to social assistance and targeted services for poor and vulnerable groups within the State.”
The agreement was signed by Shri Rajat Kumar Mishra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of India; Shri Sudip Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Finance Department on behalf of the Government of West Bengal, and Mr Junaid Ahmad, Country Director, India on behalf of the World Bank.
A recent survey found that while food and in-kind transfers reach most poor and vulnerable households in West Bengal, the coverage of cash transfers is weak. Access to social pensions by the elderly, widows, and disabled persons is also weak due to cumbersome application processes and a lack of automated systems for application and eligibility verification.
Over the next four years, the project will help strengthen the state’s capability to expand coverage and access to social assistance and to deliver cash transfers for the poor and vulnerable through a consolidated social registry.
West Bengal faces challenges related to manual data entry, inconsistent beneficiary data across departments, and a lack of data storage and data exchange protocols. The project will help digitize the state’s unified delivery system, the Jai Bangla platform, to help consolidate disparate social assistance programs and speed the delivery of social pensions to vulnerable and poor households.
The project will also support the creation of a tele-consultation network for social care services, complemented by a cadre of case management workers who can help households with advice on eldercare and links to health services and facilities. It will also create an institutional platform to improve coordination and effectiveness of government interventions to address the state’s low participation of women in the labour force.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves an incentive scheme for promotion of RuPay Debit Cards and low-value BHIM-UPI transactions 
Financial outlay for one year is Rs.1,300 crore
With this Digital Modes of Payment will become accessible to unbanked and marginalised populations outside the formal banking and financial system
The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, today has approved an incentive scheme to promote RuPayDebit cards and low-value [uptoRs. 2,000) BHIM-UPI transactions ] in the country.
Under the scheme, the acquiring banks will be incentivised by the Government, by way of paying percentage of value of transactions  done through RuPay Debit cards and low-value BHIM-UPI modes of payments, at an estimated financial outlay of Rs.1,300 crore for a period of one year w.e.f. April 01, 2021.
This scheme will facilitate acquiring Banks in building robust digital payment ecosystem and promoting RuPay Debit card and BHIM-UPI digital transactions, across all sectors and segments of the population and further deepening of digital payments in the country.
It will also help in making accessible digital modes of payments to unbanked and marginalized populations, who are outside of the formal banking and financial system.
India today is one of the most efficient payments markets in the world. These developments have been the outcome of the initiatives of the initiatives of the Government of India and innovation by various players in the digital payment ecosystem. The scheme will further spur research and development and innovation in fintech space, and will help the Government in further deepening of digital payments in various part of countries.
Background:
The scheme has been formulated in compliance with the Budget announcements  by the Governmentto give further boost to digital transactions in the country.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
India’s Cumulative COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage crosses 64 Cr landmark
More than 59 Lakh doses administered in the last 24 hours
Recovery Rate currently at 97.53%
30,941New Cases reported in the last 24 hours
India's Active Caseload is1.13% of Total Cases
Weekly Positivity Rate  less than 3% for last 67 days
India’s cumulative vaccination coverage crossed 64 Crore landmark yesterday.With the administration of 59,62,286 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India’s COVID-19 vaccination coverage has surpassed the cumulative figure of 64.05 Cr  as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 68,50,464 sessions.
The break-up of the cumulative figureas per the provisional report till 7 am today include:
|
|
HCWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
1,03,57,727
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
83,70,851
|
|
FLWs
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
1,83,20,921
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
1,31,39,739
|
|
Age Group 18-44 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
24,75,08,226
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
2,72,63,275
|
|
Age Group 45-59 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
13,02,09,298
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
5,40,22,975
|
|
Over 60 years
|
|
1st Dose
|
|
8,66,24,593
|
|
2nd Dose
|
|
4,47,11,039
|
|
Total
|
|
64,05,28,644
The Union Government is committed to accelerating the pace and expanding the scope of COVID-19 vaccination throughout the country.
The recovery of 36,275 patients in the last 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally of recovered patients  to 3,19,59,680.
Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 97.53%.
Sustained and collaborative efforts by the Centre and the States/UTs continue the trend of less than 50,000 Daily New Cases that is being reported for 65 consecutive days now.
30,941 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours.
The Active Caseload is presently 3,70,640. Active cases presently constitute 1.13% of the country's total Positive Cases.
The testing capacity across the country continues to be expanded. The last 24 hours saw a total of 13,94,573tests being conducted. India has so far conducted over 52.15 Cr  cumulative tests.
While testing capacity has been enhanced across the country, Weekly Positivity Rate at 2.51% remains less than 3% for the last 67 days now. The Daily Positivity rate stands at 2.22%. The daily Positivity rate has remained below 5% for 85 consecutive days now.
Ministry of Education
Union Education Minister inaugurates a two-day National Seminar on Ancient Indian Education system organised by NITTTR, Kolkata
Union Education Minister Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' inaugurated a two-day National Seminar on Ancient Indian Education system organised by NITTTR, Kolkata today. The programme was organised on the occasion of Maulana Azad’s birth anniversary, celebrated as National Education Day. Vice Chairman of UGC, Shri Bhushan Patwardhan, Director NITTTR, Kolkata, Prof. Debi Prasad Mishra, Chairman BOG, NITTTR, Kolkata, Shri Harshavardhan Neotia were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion Shri Pokhriyal said it is a matter of pride for us that the traditional Indian knowledge system has stood out in the fields of science, technology, art, architecture, culture, mathematics, medicine, etc. He added that it is the need of the hour to accept the vastness of the Indian disciplines and use this knowledge to solve the present day problems by connecting them to modern research and innovation.
The Minister remembered the great scholar and first Education Minister of India, Shri Maulana Abul Kalam Azad on his birth anniversary. Shri Pokhriyal elaborated on the essence of this kind of seminar, whichhighlights the importance of passing on our ancient culture and heritage to the present generation. The Minister hoped that this national seminar will provide awareness amongst the participants about the importance of the ancient Indian Education system. This seminar will give a boost to glorify the fundamentals of our ancient education, which never means holding on to the past, but thinking with a different vision for holistic development of our citizens, he added. He also appreciated the efforts of NITTTR, Kolkata for having organised this seminar in line with the requirements of NEP 2020.
Shri Patwardhan highlighted the importance of the seminar calling it the need of the hour. He also mentioned about the major initiatives being taken by the UGC to improve the quality of higher education in the country.
The inaugural ceremony was followed by the address by the Director NITTTR, Kolkata who spoke about the ancient Indian education system emphasising upon the great seats of learning, like the Nalanda & Takshashila Universities. The next speaker, Prof. Surendra Kumar, former Vice Chancellor of Kangri Gurukula University, Haridwar spoke about the Education system in the Vedic period.